Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 22-3-3 - Procedures for Certifying Loggers; Supervisory Activities; Carrying Photo Identification Card3.1. Any individual engaged in the supervision of a logging crew shall be certified as a certified logger by the director. Logging crew members not involved in supervision may be certified, but certification is not mandatory.3.2. The chief or any agent of the chief engaged in the review of timbering operations to ascertain compliance with appropriate statutes shall be specially certified by the director upon successful completion of the BMP training portion of the program.3.3. Any individual applying for certification as a certified logger shall first complete the course of instruction prescribed by the director for that purpose and shall then complete an application form supplied by the director.3.4. A fee of $150 shall be submitted with each application for certification or for certification renewal for each biennial certification term. There shall be no prorating of the fee for partial term certification.3.5. Certified Loggers must complete a course of continuing education approved by the director before every biennial recertification.3.5.a. The course of training must include a minimum of 6 credits approved by the director, 2 of the credits must consist of a review relating to West Virginia laws and BMP's for silvicultural operations.3.5.b. All applications for continuing education credits must be made on the form provided by the Division and approved by the director.3.5.c. Any provider holding an approved training shall provide a roster of attendees, certified by affixing his or her signature on the roster, to the Division before credits shall be applied.3.5.d. Disputes over denial of credits or the amount of credits issued for a particular training shall be resolved by a panel consisting of the director, a currently certified logger, a representative from WVU Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, a representative from a forest-products industry organization and a representative from a forestry certification organization.3.6. Certifications not renewed for 2 successive biennial terms shall be deemed vacant, and the number shall be available for reassignment.3.7. Any person found guilty of supervising a logging crew without a valid certification shall be eligible for certification upon satisfactory completion of the next regularly scheduled course of instruction prescribed by the director.3.8. A certified logger shall not directly supervise more than 1 crew at a time.3.9. A certified logger shall, when supervising an active timbering operation, be at the operation each day, but may leave the operation for short periods of time if an emergency situation develops.3.10. Certified loggers shall have their certified logger photo identification cards on their person at any time they are supervising a logging crew.